BEDFORD — Bedford police rescued three people and a dog from the Concord River Saturday afternoon.
Bedford Police Chief John Fisher announced in a statement that officers were dispatched to the Concord River boat ramp on Carlisle Road around 2:41 p.m. on Dec. 28, 2024, following reports of a woman and her dog falling through the ice.
The preliminary investigation indicates that a dog walking on the ice fell into the water, leading its owner to try to rescue it, only to fall through the ice herself. A second person who was with them also attempted a rescue but ended up falling through the ice as well.
A good Samaritan who saw them fall through the ice also entered the water in an attempt to provide assistance, Bedford police reported.
Shortly after the incident was reported, Bedford Police Officers Patrick Coady and Daniel Sanchez arrived at the scene. They used throwable emergency water and ice rescue disks along with rope from the shore to rescue all three individuals and the dog within minutes of the call.
“Officers Patrick Coady and Daniel Sanchez arrived within minutes and used their training and quick-thinking to rescue three people and a dog from the Concord River,” Chief Fisher said. “They did an incredible job and were able to pull everyone from the water before anyone was seriously injured. I also want to urge residents to stay off the ice. While no natural ice is ever 100 percent safe, icy waterways in Bedford are absolutely not safe for any human activities at this time.”
The Bedford Fire Department took the woman to a local hospital for treatment of cold exposure.
The two other individuals who entered the water and the dog did not require hospitalization.
